The Supreme Court has announced a landmark decision that appears to have virtually closed the doors to any delay in the general elections in the country scheduled for February 8.
The apex court ruled that objections to the delimitation of constituencies cannot be raised after the election schedule has been announced.
A three-member bench headed by Justice Sardar Tariq Masood delivered the verdict on the appeals against the delimitation of two provincial assembly seats of Quetta. The Supreme Court annulled the decision of the Balochistan High Court against the delimitation of constituencies.
The Supreme Court accepted the Election Commission of Pakistan's appeal against the Balochistan High Court's decision.
Justice Athar Minallah asked how the high court can use the legal authority of the election commission.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah remarked that after the issuance of the election schedule, all litigation related to constituencies had become ineffective. The entire election process cannot be affected to provide relief to one person.
“We have to draw a line and set a limit in this regard,” Justice Shah remarked.
Acting Chief Justice Sardar Tariq Masood said he did not understand why everyone wanted the election to be delayed. “Let elections take place in the country,” he remarked.
Justice Minallah said if a decision is announced on the petition, it will open floodgates to more applications. “When an election schedule is issued, everything stops,” he added.
The judge said that the biggest test for the election commission is to hold transparent elections on February 8.
The Balochistan High Court had changed the delimitation of constituencies of the ECP in Shirani and Zhob. The commission had filed an appeal before the Supreme Court against the decision.
